Setting mechanism for cash registers



Aug. 11, 1931. K. A. LEHMANN ET AL 1,

SETTING MECHANISM FOR CA5}! REGISTERS Filed Feb. 19. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iigi 2.

Aug. 11, 1931.

K. A. LEHMANN ET AL SETTING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Filed Feb. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q MY Patented Aug. 1 1 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL AUGUST LEI- MANN AND FRANZ RANGLAOK, OE ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO FRIED. KRUPP AKTIENG-ESELLSCHAFT, OF ESSEN-ON-THE-RUHR, GERMANY SETTING MECHANISM FOR CASH REGISTERS Application filed February 19, 1930, Serial No. 429,786, and in Germany May '7, 1929.

The invention relates to the setting mechanisms of those cash registers in which the amount setting levers are permanently in positive connection with their indicating members and during the position of rest of the machine maintain the position imparted to them in the preceding operation of the machine.

In order to prevent the amount setting levers during the state of rest from being displaced and to enable on the other hand setting of the new amount and release the operation of the machine, according to the invention the releasing lever which removes the amount setting levers to zero position converts the rigidly locked state these levers are subjected to during the state of rest of the machine to enable setting of the amount, into a resiliently locked one and at the same time unlocks the releasing mechanism for the operation of the machine.

In order that the invention can be more easily understood, a preferred embodiment of the same is illustrated by way of example in the drawings which accompany and form part of this specification. In these drawings Figure 1 is a lateral. elevation of the setting mechanism according to the invention in the position of rest of the machine,

Figure 2 is a corresponding fragmentary elevation with the parts in the position they assume after the releasing lever has been actuated, and

Figure 8 is an elevation of the releasing mechanism.

Referring to these drawings, 1 denotes the main setting shaft of the machine, Figure 1, which is rigidly mounted in the frame and has loosely mounted on it amount setting levers 2 for the individual orders. These levers have each handle 3, a toothed setting segment l and a locking segment 5. The setting segment 4 co-operates in a man ner not of interest in this connection with the totalizing mechanism (not shown). On another shaft 6 mounted in the frame of the machine is mounted a locking pawl 7 for i order which normally is held by its roof 'haped locking nose 8 in mesh with the apurtenant locking segment by a spring 9. Shaft 6 further carriers a locking yoke 11 which by set screws 12 and a lower stop face 13 cooperates with the rear faces or lugs 14 of the individual pawls 7. The yoke 11 is influenced by a spring 15 wound on shaft 6 and the free ends of which co-operate with a pin 10 rigid on yoke 11 and with two pins and rigid on the machine frame. When left to itself, yoke 11 under the influence of spring 15 would assume a middle position as illustrated in Figure 2, in the position illustrated in Figure 1, however, spring 15 tends to impart to it a clockwise rotation.

The yoke 11 has hinged to its front end on a pin 16 a pitman 17 which by means of a slot 18 is guided on a suitable hub of the main driving shaft 19 and carries on its lower end a roller 21. Yoke 11 has further pivoted on it by a pin 22 a lever 23 the lower end of which carries a roller 24 and the upper end of which normally abuts on a stop pin 27 of yoke 11 under the action of a spring 26. The roller 21 cooperates with a locking member 28 influenced by the releasing lever 32, whilst roller 24 is under the influence of a cam disk 31 which is positively connected to the releasing lever.

The releasing lever 32 is adapted to be rocked on a pin 38 of the machine frame and by means of a toothed segment 34 engages a double toothed segment 35- 36 which is mounted on the main setting shaft 1 and in mesh with a toothed segment 87 loosely mounted on the driving shaft 19. lVith this segment 37 is rigidly connected the cam disk 31 that co-operates with roller 24-, whereas the above-named locking member 28 co-operating with roller 21 is in yielding connec iii tion with segment 37, by its extension 4-1 being forced onto the pin 42 by a spring 38 mounted on segment 37 and co-operating with a bent portion 39 of locking member 28.

In the position of rest of the machine a locking disk 29 that is rigidly fixed on the driving shaft 19 offers to the roller 21 a recess 43 which on the left subsides into an inclined face 44.

The double segment 3536 has rigidly connected to it a disk 45 which by means of a slot 46 concentric to shaft 1 co-operates with a pin 47 of an arm 48 mounted on shaft 1. On the other side of the machine is provided a similar arm and both said arms are interconnected by a return bar 49 extending below and along the amount setting levers 2. The releasing lever 32 is fitted with a full-stroke locking gear comprising a locking segment 51 fixed on it and a pawl 52 mounted on the machine frame and held in a medium position by a spring, so that forward and backward motion of lever 32 is secured. The backward motion is effected by the action of a spring 53 wound on its pin 33.

The parts hitherto described operate in the following manner: In the position of rest of the machine the amount setting levers assume the position imparted to them in the preceding operation of the machine and the releasing lever 32 is in the upper position illustrated in which the roller 21 has opposite to it the recess 43 of the locking disk 29 The yoke 11 is secured in locking position against the action of spring 15 by the locking member 28 being in the path of roller 21, in which position the set screws 12 touch the pawls 7 and thereby keep rigidly locked the amount setting members.

lVhen the releasing lever 32 is depressed in order to enable setting of the amount setting levers for a new machine operation, a counterclockwise rotation is imparted to segment 37, pin 42 by urging the arm 41 of locking member 28 moving the latter out of the range of roller 21. Now yoke 11 receives a slight clockwise rotation by the action of spring 15 so that it is moved together with the parts connected thereto to the middle position illustrated in Figure 2. Owing to this motion roller 21 to a slight extent enters the recess 43, the set screws 12 are removed from the pawls 7, while the stop face 13 approaches the lugs 14 without lifting however the pawls 7 from the locking teeth 5. After this preparatory action the lower end face of the slot 46 of the disk 45 which upon depression of releasing lever 32 executes a clockwise rotation arrives at pin 47 of arm 48 and in the further course of this depression imparts to the return bar 49 an upward motion by which all amount setting levers 3 are moved back to zero position. As soon, however, as this return motion begins, the cam disk 31 arrives at the roller 24 and by lever 23 coming to abut on pin 27 imparts to yoke 11 a further clockwise rotation. Consequently yoke 11 by means of stop face 13 engaging the lugs 14 against the action of the springs 9 lifts the pawls 7 from the teeth 5 so that the return. of the amount setting levers takes place ithout any influence by the pawls T.

Shortly before the depression of the releasing lever 32 is terminated and after the amount setting levers have been Zeroized, the cam disk 31 releases roller 24 so that the yoke 11 is moved back to the middle position illustrated in Figure 2 in which the pawls 7 under the action of the springs 9 again engage the locking teeth 5 so that the amount setting levers are kept resiliently locked in Zero position.

lVhen the releasing lever 32 is now swung back by spring 53, the locking mem' ber 23 is retained in the manner to be seen from Figure 2 by roller 21, to which retention it is enabled by being yieldingly connected to segment 37. Roller 24 gives way to cam disk 31 and at the end of this motion springs back to the position in which it abuts on pin 27 without yoke 11 being thereby influenced in any way.

After the amount has been set by means of the amount setting levers 2 and the operation of the machine has been tripped in a manner to be described hereinafter, the main driving shaft 19 executes one full revolution in countor-clockwise direction. At the beginning of this rotation the inclined face 44 of disk 29 engages roller 21 and thus effects return of yoke 11 and of the parts thereon to the position illustrated in Figure 1. At the same time also locking member 23 under the action of spring 38 returns to the locking position illustrated, so that, when at the end of the revolution of shaft 19 the recess 43 of locking disk 29 (which during the operation also secures roller 21 in locked position) is again opposite roller 21, yoke 11 remains secured in locking position for the subsequent position of rest of the machine.

The operation of the machine is released through the intermediary of a releasing member 54, Figure 3, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 6 and by means not shown unlocks the driving mechanism and starts and couples the motor or, with hand crank drive, merely unlocks the driving mechanism by being allowed to execute a partial counter-clockwise rotation under the pull of a spring This releasing member 54 is normally locked against such partial rotation by abutting with a lug 56 of its free end on a rest 57 of a three-armed lever 58 loosely mounted on shaft 19. This lever 58 is positively connected by a rod 59 to the motor key 62 which is fulcrumed on a pin 61. hen key 62 is depressed, rest 57 releases lug 56 and the releasing member 54 executes the releasing motion by its recess 63 engaging over rest 57.

Now the motor key 62 is normally locked against being depressed owing to one arm, 6 1, of the three-armed lever 58 co-operating with a face 65 of a lever 66. The latter is under the action of a spring 67 and is positively connected by rod 68 to a locking piece 69 which is suspended from an arm 72 loose on a pin 71 and in the position of rest of the machine rests with its lower end 73 on a cam disk 74 rigid on the driving shaft 19. The cam disk 74 is so shaped that in the position of rest of the machine the face 65 is in such a raised position that the motor key cannot be depressed.

As described above, the arm 18, Figure 1, connected to the return bar i9 has been rocked clockwise upon depression of releasing lever 32. As to be seen from Figure 3, the arm 48 has a cam 75 which when arm 418 is rocked, meets an extension 76 of the locking piece 69 so that the latter is shifted to the right, glides off from the rise of disk 74 and thus becomes free to lower under the action of spring 67. hen this takes place, also the face 65 releases the motor key 62.

In. order to prevent however start of the machine operation until the releasing lever 32 has arrived in its upper end position, the disk as, Figure 1, is fitted with a crown of locking teeth 77 that by a locking face extending concentrically to shaft 1 and an. inclined face 78 co-operates with a locking arm 79 which is rigidly connected to the releasing member 51, Figure 3. As soon as the releasing lever 32 is set in motion, the crown engages locking arm 79 so that the releasing member 54 is impeded to move to releasing position even when the motor key 62 is depressed. The detent means 7779 further serve to lock the releasing lever 32 for the duration of the machine operation, because it is during this period that the locking arm 79 engages the slope face 78.

lVith repeated machine operations that is in operations in which several checks or the like of the same amount are issued, a release of the set amount setting members every time is not desired. Means are therefore provided enabiiug start of the operation without actuation of the releasing lever.

This mechanism comprises a repetition key 81, Figure 3, shiftably mounted in the frame under the influence of an extension spring 82 and hinged to a double lever 84: pivoted. on a fixed pin 83. The double lever 84; by means of a roller 85 engages an. open slot 86 of a lever 87 loose on shaft 19 and carrying on its upper end a swing lug 89 fnlcrnmed thereon by pin 88 and normally abutting on a pin 92 of lever 87 under the action of a spring 91. The swing lug 89 cooperates with a pin 93 of the locking piece 69 in such a manner that, upon depression of the repetition key that can take place independently of the motion of the releasing lever, the locking piece 69 is caused to glide off from cam disk 7 i in the same manner as when the releasing lever 32 is actuated. In the event the repetition key 81 happening to be depressed uninadvertently simultaneously with. a depression of the releasing lever 32, the release of the machine operation can take place nevertheless only after the depression of the releasing lever has been termh nated owing to the efi'ect of the detent members 7779'.

In the course of the machine operation the parts which partake of the release are returned to the position, illustrated in Figure 3, by the cam disk 74 lifting the locking piece 69 to its upper position. I By this re turn motion also the motor key is returned and locked again. As described, lug 89 is arranged swingingly in order to enable the return of the locking piece 69 into the sup ported position even when the repetition key 81 is held down.

. What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a cash register, an amount setting member, locking means for rigidly locking said amount setting member, an extension on said locking means, a releasing member, a locking member connected to said releasing member said locking member engaging said extension to lock said locking means in an effective position, said locking member being moved from its locking position upon operation of said releasing member, a driving member operated during a machine operation, a disk connected to said driving member, said disk engaging said extension during said machine operation, to lock said locking means in an effective position, a rein said disk, said recess being located opposite said extension in the position of rest of the machine, said locking member being located in alignment with said recess during said position of rest to engage said extension and lock said locking means in an effective position.

2. A mechanism as specified in claim 1 characterized. by the fact that the connection between said releasing member and said locking member comprises a yieldable connection, said extension moving into the said recess upon said movement of said locking means from its locking position upon opera tion of said releasing member, and including means for returning said releasing member to its original position after said operation of said releasing member, said extension engaging said locking member during said return movement to retain said locking member in its removed position, said disk engaging said extension to move said locking means to an effective position during said machine operation, said yieldable connection causing said locking member to return to its locking posit-ion upon said extension being moved to its effective position by said disk.

3. In a cash register, a motor key, a looking lug connected to said motor key, a lever adapted to engage said locking lug, a spring tending to move said lever out of engagement with said lug, a driving shaft, a cam mounted on said shaft, a locking piece resting on said cam, said locking piece being connected to said lever, said cam being formed to hold said lever in engagement with said locking lug in the position of rest of the register and to return said lever into said engagement at the end of the operation of said driving shaft.

I. A mechanism as specified in claim 3 in which said cam is provided with a raised portion to abut said locking piece to hold said lever in said engagement, a repetition member, a lever connected to said repetition member, a pivoted lug on said lever, said lug giving way in one direction of rotation, said lug engaging said locking )iece to move it out of engagement with tile raised portion of said cam upon operation of said repetition member, said locking piece, upon said firstnamed lever being returned to engagement with said locking lug, engaging said pivoted lug when said repetition piece remains in its operated position, said pivoted lug giving way upon such engagement to allow the return of said first-named lever to said engagement.

5. In a cash register, an amount setting member, a locking segment attached thereto, a detent engaging said segment, a yoke, said yoke comprising an auxiliary locking member engaging said detent, a spring device associated with said yoke adapted to normally disengage said locking member from said detent, an extension on said yoke, a releasing member, a. cam connected with said releasing member, means to efiect the release of said detent by the action of the cam upon the extension of the yoke, a second extension on said yoke, a driving member operated during a machine operation, a disk connected with said driving member, a recess in said disk, said second extension disposed in said recess to allow control of said locking member by said spring device, and means comprising said disk and a cammed edge cooperating with said recess to lock said locking means during and subsequent to a machine operation.

6. In a cash register, an amount setting member, a releasing member, an operation releasing member, means for locking said operation releasing member in a non-releasing position at the end of each machine 

